After 20 seasons of competing at the highest level for the Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant has stepped away from basketball completely this season after retiring.
While he has not been involved with the Lakers or basketball in any way, Bryant recently said that he is just a phone call away if the Lakers, specifically the Buss family, should need him.
Whether that be on the ownership side, front office side, or even coaching is currently unclear. Bryant has previously stated that he does not was to be an NBA coach, as he is more interested in filmmaking, but if he is offering his services it is something the Lakers at the very least should consider as Lakers could use all the help they can get right now. On Sunday they lost by a franchise worst 49 points to the Dallas Mavericks.
The loss was the Lakers sixth in their last seven games, and since starting the season 10-10 they have gone just 6-22.
Lakers head coach Luke Walton recently commented about possibly seeking the help of Bryant, his former teammate, saying that he would be open to it, but was not going to call him after Sunday’s disappointing loss to the Mavericks, via Mark Medina of the LA Daily News:
.@jaimemaggio informed Luke Walton that Kobe Bryant said recently on ESPN Radio that he's willing to help Lakers if asked. pic.twitter.com/UcO9NZZuG8
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) January 24, 2017
Many of the current Lakers players were teammates with Bryant last season when they won a franchise worst 17 games. The young guys did not really get to see the real Bryant though, as the 37-year-old was a shell of himself for much of last season.
One thing they did get a chance to see was Bryant’s work ethic though, and if he came back that is something he would likely continue to instill in the Lakers young core.